Does Biofuel Vegetable Oil Affect Water Pollution?

Vegetable oil biofuel is a renewable source of energy that is a practical alternative to the petroleum-based materials used in powering your car and heating your home (See References 9 and 10). The typical biofuel in use today is a blend of refined soybean oil, refined corn oil and recycled cooking oils that are mixed with lesser quantities of other agriculturally sourced materials (See Reference 1). While biofuels are less hazardous than petrochemical fuels, any material that's volatile enough to power an engine or fire up a furnace will be harmful to plants and wildlife if spilled into rivers or streams (See Reference 2).

Biofuels are Repurposed Waste Materials

A large chemical component of most biofuels is the vegetable oil that was previously used in restaurants for frying potatoes, chicken and fish. Until recent years, these cooking oils were disposed of in landfills, where they could eventually leach into groundwater. Recycling these waste materials into fuel keeps them out of the waste stream where they might contaminate water supplies and harm plant and animal life. It also reduces the risk of spillage that is common in many waste-handling processes. (See References 1 and 8)

Biofuels are Harmful to Aquatic Life

While less risky than petroleum spills, any high-volume spill of vegetable oil biofuels can be harmful to aquatic wildlife. Oils that saturate into a bird's feathers can render it flightless, putting it at greater risk to predators. Otters and beavers whose fur becomes oil impregnated suffer the risk of hypothermia, and fish may find it impossible to breathe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies any oil spill as harmful under terms of the Clean Water Act. (See Reference 2)

Biofuels are Biodegradable

Biofuels are chemically simple compounds that break down about twice as quickly as complex petrochemicals when exposed to sunlight and other naturally occurring elements found in aquatic environments. Biofuels are also more responsive to chemical and bacterial catalysts that accelerate the biodegrading process. When a vegetable oil biofuel breaks down, it provides nutrient material to naturally occurring marine life. In contrast, it is more difficult to accelerate the breakdown of spilled petroleum diesel fuels. (See References 4 and 7)

Biofuels are Volatile

Vegetable oil biofuels contain soy esters that are flammable, and spills that occur in streams, rivers and lakes can lead to surface fires that kill plants and wildlife. The soy esters can form solvents that are strong enough to dissolve engine seals and gaskets (See Reference 10), so their effect on delicate ecosystems may be devastating. If a biofuel spill occurs in drinking water reservoirs, the water will not be potable until it is thoroughly filtered and treated. (See Reference 5)

About the Author

Mike Matthews is editor of Green Building Product News, a national publication that covers sustainable innovations in building and remodeling, and he has spoken at national conferences on green building. He has also served as founding editor of "Paint Dealer" magazine.